‘Thank you, Daniel’: Ricciardo’s telling gift in what could be his final F1 drive

Ever the showman, Australian Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest lap of the Singapore Grand Prix on what could yet prove to be his final one at the pinnacle of motor sport.

Despite facing the prospect of being replaced for the next race on the calendar by young New Zealand star on the rise Liam Lawson, the 35-year-old Perth product with the megawatt smile had one final trick up his sleeve for Red Bull – pitting in the race’s closing stages, despite sitting 18th of 20 cars, to change to fresh rubber and set the race’s fastest lap.

In the process, he took that honour from ex-teammate and McLaren superstar Lando Norris, who’s desperately hunting down Ricciardo’s Red Bull stablemate Max Verstappen for the 2024 drivers’ championship and sorely needed the fastest lap bonus point on offer for top-10 finishers.

The result means that Verstappen can finish second to Norris at each of the remaining races this season, and still win the drivers’ title.

As Verstappen crossed the finish line in second, well-beaten by Norris in a dominant display, the Dutchman was told by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner about what Ricciardo had just done for his cause at the back of the field.

Daniel Ricciardo has long been one of the most popular drivers in Formula 1.Credit: Getty Images

Knowing exactly how pivotal that single point could yet prove to be later in the season’s title race, Verstappen was straight to the point: “Thank you, Daniel,” he said.

Ahead of the final six GPs of the season, Verstappen boasts a 52-point lead over Norris.

After the pair qualified on the front row together, Norris again showcased the McLaren’s sheer pace advantage over the once seemingly unbeatable Red Bull while, for Verstappen, second place was all about damage limitation.

Starting in fifth on the grid after what he admitted was a frustrating performance in qualifying, in-form Melbourne product Oscar Piastri – the second-youngest driver on the grid behind impressive Argentinian newcomer Franco Colapinto – finished third, proving a class above both Mercedes and Ferrari, who were found wanting.

But it was the Australian at the other stage of his career, Ricciardo, who set tongues wagging at the Marina Bay circuit after a frantic 62-lap race held in sweltering heat.

2024 F1 DRIVER STANDINGS

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 331 points
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) 279 points
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 245 points
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 237 points

1st: 25 points, 2nd: 18 points, 3rd: 15 points, 4th: 12 points, 5th: 10 points, 6th: 8 points, 7th: 6 points, 8th: 4 points, 9th: 2 points, 10th: 1 point.

There are six races remaining this season.

As a sign of his popularity – if the reception he received for his showing on the hit Netflix series Drive to Survive wasn’t emphatic enough – Ricciardo was also voted “driver of the day” by the fans watching on the worldwide Sky Sports coverage.

After the race, a typically honest Ricciardo said that winning “driver of the day” didn’t usually mean much, but this time was different.

“Today I can say it’s something I’m appreciative of – that one today means a little something,” he told Sky.

When asked about clinching the fastest lap at the end of the race, Ricciardo’s ever-present smile grew that little bit wider.

Ricciardo settles into his RB car ahead of what could prove to be his final F1 race.Credit: Getty Images

“If Max wins (the title) by a point, then I just guaranteed myself a nice Christmas present,” he said.

While not confirming that Lawson would replace him for the races to come, nor his exit from the category (given the potential for other race seats to open up in the future), Ricciardo said finishing at the tail-end of the grid was hardly what he envisioned when he returned to the Red Bull program after his exit from McLaren, where he was replaced by Piastri for 2023 onwards.

“I have to acknowledge why I came back after the McLaren stint – I always said I don’t want to come back just to be on the grid, I want to try and fight back at the front (of the field) and get back with Red Bull,” he said.

“Obviously it didn’t come to fruition, so then I also have to ask myself the question – what else can I achieve? What else is there to really go for?

2024 F1 CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS

1. McLaren Mercedes 516 points
2. Red Bull Honda 475
3. Ferrari 441
4. Mercedes 329
5. Aston Martin Mercedes 86
6. RB Honda 34
7. Haas Ferrari 31
8. Williams Mercedes 16
9. Alpine Renault 13
10. Sauber Ferrari 0

“I put my best foot forward and let’s say maybe the fairytale ending didn’t happen, but I also have to look back on what it’s been 13 or so years and, yeah, I’m proud.

“I’m at peace with it (the prospect of my F1 career ending) – at some point it comes for all of us.”

Later, an emotional Ricciardo spoke about just what racing in the top flight means to him.

“The cockpit is something that I got very used to for many years, and I just wanted to savour the moment,” he said with a slight tremble in his voice.

But Ricciardo, the winner of eight F1 races (fourth all-time on the list of Australians) was hardly feeling sorry for himself.

“It’s what I signed up for,” he said of the brutality of the driver merry-go-round in the sport’s top flight.

Australian winners of Formula 1 Grand Prix

• Sir Jack Brabham (1955-1970) 14 wins
• Alan Jones (1975-81, 1983, 1985-86) 12 wins
• Mark Webber (2002-2013) 9 wins
• Daniel Ricciardo (2011-current) 8 wins
• Oscar Piastri (2023-current) 2 wins

PODIUM FINISHES

Webber 42, Ricciardo 32, Brabham 31, Jones 24, Piastri 9, Tim Schenken (1970-1974) 1

Interviewed ahead of the race, Horner was asked directly about Ricciardo’s future.

“We took experience over that (Lawson getting into the car for the start of this season) because Daniel was our banker for if Sergio (Perez) were to drop the ball (in the main Red Bull team). Daniel has had a reasonable season, but it hasn’t been a stellar year. “The question is: How good is Liam?

“Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made to get those answers. We’ll sit down with all of those options available to us during this next three-week gap (before Austin, Texas).”

While team orders will likely play a key part at McLaren for the rest of the season – after the papaya outfit admitted they would favour title contender Norris over Piastri – they had no bearing in Singapore.

Norris (right) shows the effects of the 30-plus-degree temperatures in Singapore.Credit: AP

Norris was too blisteringly fast.

At one stage, at the start of lap 31 – the halfway mark of the race – he was still ahead of Piastri despite having already pitted for new tyres and with the Australian yet to make his compulsory stop.

But there were still a couple of hair-raising moments in a race that commands so much physically and mentally from its drivers.

Lando Norris was never threatened after easing away from the front of the grid at the race start in Singapore.Credit: Getty Images

The temperature still exceeded 30 degrees despite the event being a night race, and while setting a relentless pace on the tight, technical street circuit, Norris’ concentration slipped just enough for him to twice make contact with the concrete walls surrounding the track.

Luckily for the Brit, his car sustained only minor, superficial damage and he stormed to victory by more than 20 seconds.

Piastri, meanwhile, was never really in contention for the race win.

“Qualifying … it wasn’t my greatest afternoon yesterday, so to get back to the podium is a great result,” he said.

“I feel like we had a really quick car underneath us and a good strategy to get past the Mercedes.

“Clearly the car was exceptional this weekend and (we clinched) some great points for the whole team.”

“I’m at peace with it (the prospect of his F1 career ending) – at some point it comes for all of us.”

Daniel Ricciardo on his Formula 1 mortality

After the race, Verstappen – the three-time reigning championship winner – paid tribute to Ricciardo.

“We’ve always had a great relationship, a great friendship, (and) a lot of respect for each other as well,” he said of his former Red Bull teammate.

“He’s just a great guy – I get on well (with him), it just clicks.

“There’s no fake person, we just get along.

“He’ll for sure be remembered as a very fast driver, I think everyone knows that, but also as a great guy.”

The United States GP – held in Austin – is the next event on the calendar from October 18 to 20.

2024 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX FINISHING ORDER

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) 1:40:52.571
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +20.945 sec
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +41.823
4. George Russell (Mercedes) +61.040
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +62.430
6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +85.248
7. Carlos Sainz jnr (Ferrari) +96.039
8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +1 lap
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +1 lap
10. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +1 lap
11. Franco Colapinto (Williams) +1 lap
12. Yuki Tsunoda (RB) +1 lap
13. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +1 lap
14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +1 lap
15. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber) +1 lap
16. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber) +1 lap
17. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +1 lap
18. Daniel Ricciardo (RB) +1 lap
19. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) DNF
20. Alexander Albon (Williams) DNF

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